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Comment on A fake Facebook event disguised as a math problem has been one of its top posts for 6 months

AnotherPenguin@programming.dev ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

Another common issue is thinking “parentheses go first” and then beginning by solving the operation beside them (mostly multiplication). The point being that what’s inside the parentheses goes first, not what’s beside them.

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SmartmanApps@programming.dev ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago

Another common issue is thinking “parentheses go first”

There’s no “think” - it’s an absolute rule.

then beginning by solving the operation beside them

a(b) isn’t an operation - it’s a Product. a(b)=(axb) per The Distributive Law.

(mostly multiplication)

NOT Multiplication, a Product/Term.

The point being that what’s inside the parentheses goes first, not what’s beside them

Nope, it’s the WHOLE Bracketed Term. a/bxc=ac/b, but a/b©=a/(bxc). Inside is only a “rule” in Elementary School, when there isn’t ANYTHING next to them (students aren’t taught this until High School, in Algebra), and it’s not even really a rule then, it’s just that there isn’t anything ELSE involved in the Brackets step than what is inside (since they’re never given anything on the outside).

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